Monday, April 30, 2012

Aprons have become very popular again. Just look in magazines, on the net, or in book and craft stores, and you'll find numerous apron ideas. For most, it's the new fashion statement. For me, it's a necessity.

The first year we moved to the farm, I realized why our grandmothers wore them--for the obvious reason of protecting clothing--but for the less obvious reason of providing pockets to carry all kinds of tools, supplies, work gloves, keys, etc. Aprons have been a big help to me in the garden or in helping John with his building projects.

Looking at all the brightly colored aprons for sale on Etsy, I decided I needed something to spark up my own summer wardrobe--a working apron with big pockets and lots of fun trims--something that's fast to make and durable. I went to my stash of fabrics and started measuring and cutting. It was a projects that grew as I went along.

The apron turned out so well that I thought I'd share it with you. Even a novice seamstress will be able to put this one together!

Supplies Needed:

3 Coordinated Fabrics, approximately 3/4yard each

Several Coordinating Trims, such as ribbons, rick-rack

1 Re-cycled Denim Pocket

Recycled Shirt Buttons

Scissors, Pins, Needles

Sewing Machine

Serger (optional)

Thread

Ruler

Chalk or Pencil for Marking

Instructions:

Gather together all the supplies.

Decide where each fabric is to be placed--apron, pocket, waist band, ties.

Cut apron 16" x 25"

Pocket 10 3/4" x 25"

Waist band 4 1/2" x 25"

Ties 4 1/2" x 33" (x2)

Turn under 1/4" at the top of the pocket piece and stitch down.

Stitch selected trims onto upper pocket. Play around with the trims. Have fun with it.

Cut a piece of green ribbon (I used grograin). Pin vertically for the flower stem. Stitch down sides, top, and bottom of the ribbon, turning under the top of the ribbon.

Position the recycled pocket so that the lower flower stem is covered. Pin and stitch.

Stitch pocket onto apron at the bottom, placing the right side of the pocket to the wrong side of the apron so that the seam will be hidden inside the pocket.

Flip pocket up to right side of apron. Divide the pocket into sections by running vertical lines of stitching. I decided on three sections for my apron--one line of stitching at the flower stem and one between the flower stem and the right edge.

By now, your apron pieces are probably not even. Not to worry. Take your ruler and "square" it up! This is important for the apron to hang correctly.

Fold the waist band in half and press. Interfacing can be placed inside for added strength. I actually used a single piece of the same fabric.

Stitch band onto apron.

Fold ties in half and stitch a 1/4" seam. Turn to outside, placing the seam to the center. Press.

Pin ties to waist band, lining up edges.

Run a line of stitching down each side of the apron, including the ties.

Turn side edges under and stitch. Your apron is almost finished!

For the flower, cut at least three circles of different sizes from the left-over fabric. I cut 2 denim and 1 each of the multicolor and pink fabrics. You can use Fray Check, or a similar product on the edges, or leave the edges to fray, as I did.

Stitch down each circle with regular or embroidery thread. I used a double strand of regular black sewing thread.

Position flower and stitch down.

Now, add recycled shirt buttons for the flower center. Tie a bow with your choice of green ribbon for the flower leaves. Attach. (I used a clear button, but you can just tack it down by hand.)

Maybe add a fun pin and a pair of garden gloves and you're ready for work!

Friday, April 27, 2012

Even though we live and work in this historic district of a 1930s Delta farm, my true heart is in the two centuries previous--the 18th and 19th. Even as a child, I was drawn to the colonial and pioneer periods in our history. The year that our family traveled to the northeast on vacation, we visited Colonial Williamsburg. I was enchanted from the moment we arrived. I told my Dad I'd work there one day. I'm sure he laughed inside, if not out loud. But, "one day" came, and I did live my dream. I "dressed up and played" everyday, loving every minute of it.

I've loved being back at the farm, too,

but that colonial/pioneer spirit is still strong within.

Now that we no longer tour people through our home, we've decided to turn our keeping room into the more primitive style of those earlier centuries. And, to get some inspiration, we visited The Homeplace at Land Between the Lakes in Tennessee.

We won't be going this primitive. The furniture, the arrangement, and the accessories were my interest. Can you imagine cooking a meal for 10 or 12 on this stove?